News Summary
Pennsylvania’s sports betting handle dropped to $655.3 million in May 2025, the lowest since August 2024. Despite the decrease in handle, gross revenue soared to $76.1 million, marking a 23.3% increase year-over-year. Online betting dominated the market, with online sportsbooks contributing the majority of the handle. While the dip in handle raises concerns, overall gaming revenue in the state reached a historic high of $601.8 million, with the iGaming sector also seeing significant growth. Stakeholders remain optimistic amidst the fluctuations.
Pennsylvania has reported a significant drop in sports betting handle for May 2025, totaling $655.3 million, the lowest monthly figure since August 2024. This decline marks the second consecutive month of decreased betting activity, coming in below the $700 million mark that had been consistent earlier in the year.
Despite this drop in handle, the state experienced a remarkable increase in gross revenue from sports betting, which soared to $76.1 million. This represents a 23.3% year-over-year increase and is the highest grossing month since January’s total of $84.3 million. Taxable revenue also saw a positive trend, amounting to $59.4 million, reflecting a significant 34.4% annual increase. The total tax revenue from sports betting reached $21.4 million in May 2025.
In terms of online versus retail betting, online sportsbooks accounted for a staggering $625 million of the total handle, generating $73.1 million in gross revenue. FanDuel led the online marketplace with a handle of $250.8 million, resulting in gross revenue of $34.5 million, which was nearly $13 million higher than their April performance. DraftKings followed with a handle of $167.3 million but experienced a decline from $184 million in April, though their revenue increased by 6.6% to $19.4 million.
Other notable performances in the market included BetMGM with a handle of $49.6 million, and Fanatics Sportsbook generating $5.4 million from a handle of $42.1 million. BetRivers rounded out the top five with a $29.1 million handle, while bet365 achieved an 11% hold on a $28.2 million handle, generating $800,000 more in revenue than BetRivers.
While sports betting exhibited fluctuations, overall gaming revenue across Pennsylvania reached a historic high, surpassing $600 million for the first time, totaling $601.8 million in May. This figure reflects a robust 15.5% year-over-year increase. The iGaming sector also flourished, achieving a 33.8% year-over-year increase with revenue of $232.8 million for the month, aided by a 2.2% increase from April. The state collected $104.6 million in tax revenue from iGaming alone.
May’s sports betting numbers were influenced by ongoing NBA and NHL playoff activities, even though no local professional teams participated in the playoffs. Pennsylvania currently hosts 11 active sportsbooks since the legalization of sports betting in May 2019, with the state’s sports betting industry being regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. The broader context for this growth stems from gambling expansion legislation signed into law in 2017, allowing sports betting as part of a wider strategy to enhance the state’s gaming revenue.
With the current trends in both online and retail wagering, stakeholders remain optimistic about the future of sports betting in Pennsylvania, although the dip in handle might suggest a potential caution for upcoming months. The sports betting landscape continues to evolve, with players and regulators alike monitoring these shifts closely.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Covers: Pennsylvania Sports Betting Handle Rises
- Wikipedia: Sports Betting in the United States
- iGaming Business: Pennsylvania Gambling Revenue Record
- Google Search: Pennsylvania Sports Betting
- Play Pennsylvania: Sports Betting
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Sports Betting
- Legal Sports Report: Pennsylvania Sports Betting
- Google News: Pennsylvania Gambling Revenue
- Deadspin: List of All Pennsylvania Sportsbooks
- Google Scholar: Pennsylvania Gambling Statistics
- Covers: Pennsylvania Betting
